I grew up loving to swim. As a matter of fact, I still love to swim. I first joined a swim team at age 5. I wasn’t that great… but I had a heck of a lotta’ drive – kind of like my son William. William has always loved the water. He begged me this whole past winter to let him join the summer swim team (his cousins were on it last year and he really wanted to be with them). All last summer I kept telling him, “You can do swim team when you’re 5 years old.” Well… now he’s 5. And I kept true to my promise, I signed him up for the swim team in the same pool I first learned to swim in… and on the first swim team I ever joined, too. Truly, a full circle moment.

My heart was leaping out of its chest when we showed up to practice on Monday… there was so much traffic on the highway, so we got there a few minutes late – which is not my usual style – so we were in rush-rush mode. As we were running to the pool deck, the kids were stretching. William didn’t know anyone, so I was (as every mom knows) worried nobody would talk to him. He asked me to stay on deck for his first day, which I was going to do anyway… so I was happy he asked for me.

He did an amazing job… what I love about this team is that – as long as you can swim a lap and want to be on the team – you can. My little swimmer William made me smile from ear to ear today… and yes, even shed a happy tear. My little man… oh, my…

And I can’t forget my other “fish” – Alexander and Benjamin. They had their first swim lesson of the summer, too. These two are like two peas in a pod, they’re the best of friends… and that – within itself – warms my heart. They got to master the diving board…